Robin's Wings: Lessons from My Daughter on How to Grieve for My Only Child

This book is both a tribute to a child that was taken all too early and a catharsis for a grieving mother who found the strength to go on in her child's own words. Through a series of stories written by Robin and Holly, both women have reminded me of the resiliency of the human spirit. In Robin's case, a young woman coped with a serious (and long undiagnosed) illness with humor, equanimity, and an open heart. In Holly's case, a mother somehow learned to find the courage to survive the most devastating loss imaginable by taking to heart what Robin's words had to teach her. I was expecting this book would be difficult to get through. And, yes, parts of it broke my heart. But other parts made me laugh out loud and marvel at the bonds that can never be broken. All in all, it is an incredibly heartfelt, well-written testament to both those who are gone and those who somehow find the strength to continue. It should provide comfort and inspiration to anyone who has suffered a loss.

This book is a wonderful book. It is a must read for any parent who has lost a child, but a still a compelling read for the parent who hasn't. The author presents the child's life as a celebration of the miracle of life, and as a beacon in her own life. She masterfully weaves the childs blogs with her own view of the child's life and presents the child as a living, vibrant human being. Even though that the child has passed, we still see her as living child and a great example of what the human spirit can accomplish under very adverse conditions. The book clearly describes the parent's struggle, but is filled with hope, the lessons we can learn from our children, and the value of life. It is an inspirational read.

This is a book that you might hesitate to purchase because you think you would be saddened by reading it. Not so. This young woman, Robin, had Joy as her middle name and she had joy in her heart. She loved life and she shares that through her blogs that she wrote while alive, working, loving, and fighting her medical condition undiagnosed for so long. She had an incredible sense of humor, especially for absurd circumstances. She was beautiful, intelligent and talented and that is the loss to all who knew her and loved her, especially her mother. It is the Mom who had promised that Robin would write a book someday. Together, with using Robin's own words, she tries to find answers to the incredible loss she is feeling and in doing so tries to find ways to cope with this loss. It is as if Robin is speaking to her directly in her time of need. There is one poem, "No Words" written by the mother/author Holly Sillau. She introduces it by stating "Grieving parents know that in truth, there are NO WORDS to describe the parent who has lost a child. Holly feels that in writing this book she will somewhat come to terms with her own loss and hopefully help other parents who have experienced their own loss. I think she will.

Reading this book was a life-transforming experience. Robin's Wings is a rare and special book that actually made me a better person for having read it. The driving force is Robin Sillau's extraordinary positivity, wit, wisdom and kindness.Robin's mother, Holly Sillau, tells us that she created this volume to help others who are grieving for the loss of a beloved child but this book speaks to all of us. We learn that Robin passed away in January 2010 yet in this book she is right here with us. Her writing is completely engaging, her strength in adversity awe-inspiring. We come to know her, applaud her accomplishments, laugh with her as she hilariously recounts some mind-boggling adventures and feel gratitude to her mother for having allowed us to meet such a beautiful soul. We come away aspiring to approach life as fully and courageously as Robin did, and in her writings Robin gives us the tools to do so.Robin and Holly have much to teach us. Their book is a precious gift they have given us from the fullness of their hearts. Read it and then share it with a friend.